Today I want to talk about the most important relationship you’ll ever have – your relationship with yourself. Think about it – romantic partners may come and go, friends can drop out of your life, but you are there all the time, so why not make it the best relationship possible?
The whole idea of a relationship with yourself may sound silly, but really it’s just a way to be mindful of how you talk to yourself and treat yourself day to day. It’s easy to put our needs last when we’re busy with family or work obligations, so consider this a gentle reminder to be kinder to Y-O-U and make sure your needs and wants are being met.
For some of us, it feels selfish to ever put ourselves first, but really, the only way we can be our best for others is if we’re taking care of ourselves. You can’t keep giving your best if you’re run down, depleted, or filling your head with critical thoughts. So if you’re feeling guilty about taking some time for yourself, remember the saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”
And if you need some help thinking of ways to love yourself more and improve your relationship with Y-O-U, here are four easy ideas you can start today:
No. 1: Say good morning to yourself.
You say good morning to your kids, your partner, even your dog, but do you ever say good morning to yourself? If not, give it a try. When you first get up in the a.m., look in the mirror and give yourself a smile, a wave, and a friendly “Good morning!” You may feel a little awkward at first, but the simple greeting can help set the tone for a happy day. And if you want to go further, you can repeat a mantra (maybe something like “I deserve good things”).
No. 2: Block out “You” time.
Everyone needs time for themselves each day, but often we don’t make the time. So do yourself a favor and schedule “you” time into your calendar. Set aside whatever you can spare and make it an official appointment so you won’t push it later or cancel. Then, grab your journal, meditate, take a nap, go for a walk – do anything that feels kind to yourself and will let you reconnect with Y-O-U. You could even take yourself out on a “date” – grab lunch or a drink, see a movie by yourself and enjoy your own company.
No. 3: Compliment yourself.
To help quiet your inner critic and boost your confidence, make it a point each day to compliment yourself. You could do it first thing in the morning, or try to notice when you do or say something noteworthy during the day. It doesn’t have to be huge, even a simple “you did a great job staying calm during that meeting” or “nice coffee brewing this morning,” can give you a boost.
No. 4: Practice saying “no” more often.
Building a stronger relationship with yourself takes time, and if you’re saying “yes” to every request that comes your way, you simply won’t have time for Y-O-U. So work on saying “no” to anything that doesn’t serve you. If you have a hard time saying no and find yourself answering “yes” to people without really thinking of the consequences, then ease yourself into the “no” with a “thanks for thinking of me, let me get back to you on that.” Giving yourself some space to think and decide can help you get better at turning down requests you don’t really want to do.
Loving yourself isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth the effort. So here’s to building a better relationship with Y-O-U!
Emily and the EveryDay Happy Team
P.S. Consider investing in yourself with one-on-one life coaching or business coaching. Each option is another way to show yourself some love. 🙂
P.P.S. We’re talking so much self-love on Instagram this month. Join us daily @EveryDayHappy.Life to get inspired and feel good!
Quote du jour
“We just need to be kinder to ourselves. If we treated ourselves the way we treated our best friend, can you imagine how much better off we would be?” – Meghan Markle
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